Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Brinsea spot check - you can google it, they have it on Amazon too

 

[uchytil]

I'm pooped. Trees are tapped and I did not do a single other thing other than daily animal chores. The sap is flowing like a river. I hope it stays that way for awhile. I think this will be the first year I won't let my guard down and get chicks, break out the bator, or look for ducklings

. Well maybe ducklings....

 

[aart]

I'm pooped. Trees are tapped and I did not do a single other thing other than daily animal chores. The sap is flowing like a river. I hope it stays that way for awhile. I think this will be the first year I won't let my guard down and get chicks, break out the bator, or look for ducklings

. Well maybe ducklings....

Are you still having freezing nights?
Down here near Paw Paw the nights are above freezing and folks are saying season's over.

 

[uchytil]

Are you still having freezing nights?
Down here near Paw Paw the nights are above freezing and folks are saying season's over.

Barely. Last night it did. Before that no. It could be a bad season for us if the nights stay in the upper 30's. The good news for me is I still have 2013 and 2014 syrup left. Best just to roll with it and keep the trees tapped. I usually go into April with tapping. I was talking to kin in New England and they are still getting hammered by bad weather - 40degF days - 20degF nights make sap flow though so they are in good shape. Pretty sure the folks north of me are doing ok.

It's all a wait and see thing right?

 

[myfarm4579]

Took our two extra roos to a place in westbranch that takes unwanted chickens and such today. It was a nice farm to leave them

 

[aart]

Quote: I guess, have just tapped my very first tree yesterday, not a drop yet.
But I just used a piece of small pex, 1/4 I.D., so I don't know if it's my tap the tree or the weather.

A few folks around here say it's not over and some swear it is, some didn't bother tapping.

 

[swampducks]

Barely. Last night it did. Before that no. It could be a bad season for us if the nights stay in the upper 30's. The good news for me is I still have 2013 and 2014 syrup left. Best just to roll with it and keep the trees tapped. I usually go into April with tapping. I was talking to kin in New England and they are still getting hammered by bad weather - 40degF days - 20degF nights make sap flow though so they are in good shape. Pretty sure the folks north of me are doing ok.

It's all a wait and see thing right?

All week we've been getting 40s in the day and 20s at night till last night when the low was 31.8. we've got 15 taps, only 4 flowing fairly well, another just barely started and the other 10 are still dry as a bone. Hope something goes on with those soon.

DH just boiled down our first 2 gallons today. Got it down to a quart for the fine tuning. First time we've ever done this.

 

[uchytil]

I guess, have just tapped my very first tree yesterday, not a drop yet.
But I just used a piece of small pex, 1/4 I.D., so I don't know if it's my tap the tree or the weather.

A few folks around here say it's not over and some swear it is, some didn't bother tapping.

You gotta be in it to win it, lol! Anyway, I just checked the long range and saw possible mid-20 nights next week. I've been through this before. Tap trees early March, get a few gallons, sap stops running, then 2 weeks later it gushes for a week, or more. When you drill a hole for the spile sometimes the sap starts pouring out, sometimes not. The bad is if it runs and stops for awhile it can scab inside. The good is you can drill a new hole with no damage to the tree. There are people that tap the same trees their G. G. Great Granddaddy's tapped.

Forget the naysayers.

I drill a 7/16" hole about 2-3" deep. I use cheap plastic spiles with 5/16" clear tubing into 1/2" PEX to the ground. I also use metal spiles (old school) into cans and milk jugs. The milk jugs are my favorite!

Did I mention to forget the naysayers?

 

[aart]

Quote:

 

[JackieandChicks]

There is one for 2014 the new 2015 should be out in a week or two. A lot of the 2014 did not re-certify or test enough birds to keep their certification.

You found out more than I did there I heard $2 per bird on another list. I wonder what the real rate is...has anyone been tested and what did you get charged?

I am in Ottawa county and will be testing for anyone this way...